Vice President Kamala Harris swiftly secured the support of Democratic delegates after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. Biden’s decision to step aside, prompted by concerns over his fitness for office, created a seismic shift in the presidential contest, disrupting the carefully laid plans of both major parties for the 2024 race. In the wake of Biden’s announcement, prominent Democratic elected officials, party leaders, and political organizations rallied behind Harris, endorsing her as the only declared candidate. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear were among those who quickly endorsed Harris, leaving few potential rivals.
However, winning the nomination is just the first item on Harris’ political to-do list. With just over 100 days until Election Day, she must also select a running mate and transition her campaign’s massive political operation to focus on boosting her candidacy instead of Biden’s. The transition began with a name change as Biden’s campaign formally became “Harris for President.” Harris inherited a well-funded campaign, with a war chest of nearly $96 million at the end of June. The endorsement from Biden also resulted in a surge of donations, with $49.6 million raised within the first 15 hours after the announcement.
Harris wasted no time in reaching out to Democratic officials, making over 100 calls to secure their support. She expressed gratitude for Biden’s endorsement but emphasized her goal of earning the nomination in her own right. Her efforts to unite the party were met with success as she quickly won endorsements from influential caucuses and political organizations, including those focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, Black political power, and Latino voters. The chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Black Caucus also endorsed Harris. Notably, several men who had been discussed as potential running mates for Harris, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, also swiftly endorsed her.
While many rallied behind Harris, former President Barack Obama chose not to immediately endorse her, aiming to avoid the appearance of a coronation. Instead, he pledged his support to the eventual party nominee. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who had considered re-registering as a Democrat and vying for the nomination, confirmed that he would not be a candidate.
Harris’s first public appearance as the presumptive nominee took place at the White House, where she spoke at an event honoring NCAA championship teams. Balancing her role as vice president and candidate, Harris later traveled to Wilmington to meet with her new campaign staff.
In her statement following Biden’s endorsement, Harris praised his decision and expressed her commitment to unite the Democratic Party and defeat Donald Trump. Biden plans to discuss his decision in an address to the nation later in the week.
The Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August, will undergo adjustments in light of Biden’s exit. The party had planned a virtual roll call for Biden’s nomination, but Harris communicated her preference for a process that adheres to regular order.
The Democratic National Committee’s chair, Jaime Harrison, assured that the party would undertake a transparent and orderly process to select a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November. As the race progresses, Harris will face numerous challenges, but with the support of key party figures and a well-funded campaign, she is poised to make history as the first woman and person of South Asian descent to be president.
